Surviving The Fourth Calamity

However, before he completes his studies, Teacher Hill allows Russell and the others to temporarily borrow all similar tools in the Magic Tower.

Besides, conveniently, Josh’s Dawn Tower is just right for them to practice... Of course, there’s no need to tell Josh, who is quite grateful that Russell and the others chose to help him first.

At least the result is good for him, right?

Of course, Russell has never held back his true thoughts... it’s just unknown how much of it Josh can understand.

But, from Russell’s perspective, he really tried his best.

He tried so hard that Carpenter would desperately tug at his sleeve, urging him to speak more politely.

Of course, Russell has also wondered if Josh understood but pretended not to.

He truly doesn’t believe there’s anyone who’s lived so many years without understanding human speech.

But Russell knows that human beings aren’t predictable; whether they’re pretending to be foolish or clever, he just has to do what he should do... Then, no matter what happens afterward, at least he won’t regret it or feel guilty.

His teacher taught him a lot about how to conduct oneself in society.

Growing up in this world, Russell understood for the first time what it means to ”obtain directly, seek subtly”... When you’ve gone about something through detours and hesitations, what you get will always be begged for, not naturally yours.

Moreover, things obtained through twists and turns often get taken first by those who boldly reach out for them.

Making sure you can stand tall in the face of anything allows you to muster twice the courage, even when you face your true enemy.

Of course, Russell also knows that Teacher Hill’s teaching style stems entirely from him being a good man with conscience and principles.

Yet, this is exactly the kind of life Russell desires!

Who doesn’t want to be upright and decent?

How many wicked beings can behave as boldly as Toril’s Goddess of the Night, doing evil yet still being righteous... Well, she indeed has that privilege.

Russell originally wanted a life like this... Not only did he achieve it, but it far exceeded the limit he could imagine.

Where can you find such a good teacher!

He and Carpenter, even though they come from noble families, have never felt such meticulous care from childhood to adulthood.

What’s wrong with having high expectations for spell learning?

Let alone, despite the somewhat strenuous learning process, after consulting List, Russell somewhat understands that his teacher sets the requirements based on his own pace and then halves it for him.

Carpenter’s tasks are half of Russell’s, which for her isn’t too difficult.

Although Russell still feels really tired, he absolutely doesn’t want to fail to meet even half of his teacher’s progress at the same time.

That would make him feel extremely useless.

Therefore, even though List comforted him, saying that Teacher Hill can accomplish so much due to natural divine power, exceeding human limits, and that Russell has already achieved remarkable strength, meaning there’s no need to force himself to finish his studies so quickly.

But how could Russell be satisfied?

At least he’s aware now, understanding the real gap between himself and his teacher, unlike before when he couldn’t even touch the edge!

Carpenter gently retreated a bit.

Recently, her brother has been tirelessly brainwashing her, to the point where today he completely lost reason, truly imagining himself as a puppet capable of nonstop work.

Carpenter isn’t that foolish, nor that crazy.

She took a deep breath... Despite List always evasively answering, under the girl’s close questioning, he finally described a bit about Teacher Hill’s stamina... a terrifying presence.

Anyway, Carpenter understood part of it... If there’s an undead creature together with Teacher Hill moving stones, the one collapsing on the ground would only be the undead.

Due to excessive wear on its bones.

She’d be crazy to meet even a quarter of such entity’s expectations!

However, because of Carpenter’s overly bleak expression, List slightly hinted to her some information that Russell hadn’t asked: that is, the spell learning progress is about the same, but Teacher Hill actually spends most of his time studying Alchemy knowledge.

Carpenter’s learning tasks are entirely based on Russell’s; she needn’t be so fearful.

Moreover, Carpenter still has time for art studies each day, which is quite generous... The girl didn’t doubt List’s words.

Since the teacher judged it according to her true ability and then added some burdens, Carpenter could only grit her teeth and endure it.

But to be like Russell, she absolutely couldn’t!

-----------------

”Your two students are really quite interesting.” Shaer propped her chin, watching the two kids stepping on the Rainbow Bridge, accompanying Josh who had finished tidying up the Magnet Mountain peak to begin tower base construction, ”The smarter one likes to play dumb and deceive himself, the less smart one, likes to whip himself.

Indeed, List truly made me understand what is meant by teaching according to one’s aptitude.”

”Isn’t it speaking as humans when with humans, speaking as ghosts when with ghosts?” Lansendel turned to ask.

”I wouldn’t describe Hill’s Tower Spirit with unpleasant words like you,” Shaer responded swiftly.

”You...” Lansendel suddenly chuckled, ”William must be busy arranging the arrival of the Undead Tribe here, too busy to accompany you?

Look at your...”

”Ah! Are the Undead Tribe arriving soon?” Hill quickly interrupted this dangerous conversation.

Lansendel isn’t afraid of getting beaten; he’s more worried about the various traps and mazes he’s just set up!

Ha~

If the Undead Tribe doesn’t want to commit suicide to return to town, they’d better study how to find stage exits from those bizarre mazes... each level has a special riddle.

If they’re lucky, they’ll land on the outermost level and can exit after walking through two sections of the maze.

If they’re not so lucky... ha~ they might as well climb the Ninety-Nine Levels of Challenge in the mountains!

The maze isn’t actually hard to walk through; it’s just a bit lively and mischievous, sometimes splashing water, sometimes scattering earth.

It laughs with a creak-creak sound every now and then.

The puzzles aren’t hard; the Undead Tribe definitely knows them, but they’re mostly brain teasers... most of them make you curse yourself.

Hill keeps the level of pranks very well balanced.

Moreover, luck is something that only depends on their own fate.

However, these setups are only temporary; Hill didn’t build them too meticulously... at least, they definitely can’t withstand the divine power confrontation of the Lord of Dawn and the Goddess of the Night.

”Yes.” Shaer nodded, ”You have seven days left, so prepare yourself mentally!”

Lansendel looked a bit puzzled: ”I don’t see the Young Master and the others doing anything too big!

Why are you making it sound so scary?”

”Knowing you have a good relationship with Hill and that you’re right next to him, how could they possibly do the most important thing in front of you?” Shaer smiled slightly, ”The Undead Tribe isn’t only limited to playing tricks in Toril.”

Hill was a bit confused... He’d already heard the Little Bear’s Song twice, so why does Shaer still think he would be seriously caught off guard?

Honestly, Hill even suspected that Shaer intended for Hill to help her deal with the reckless Undead Tribe, which is why she made it sound so serious.

The Undead Tribe has always been just playing pranks, and at most would embarrass him a little, causing a bit of vulnerability... they don’t hate Hill at all, why would they do something too outrageous?

Even if there are occasional damages, they are still considered friendly interactions.

Hill really doesn’t know what Shaer is up to.

But anyway, he’s already prepared for everything, with his mental tolerance threshold raised to the highest alert... if he still gets caught off guard, then surely there’s something completely unforeseen.

That would indeed be something he ought to bear.

At least, it’s not an enemy that discovered this weak point.

It’s not necessarily a bad thing.

-----------------

Hill looked up at the sky.

The sky was cloudless, bright and sunny, even the usual stern sea breeze became gentle... the Undead Tribe chose a very nice weather to start their new world journey.

The top floor of the Magic Tower where he stood had been completely opened up, turning into a huge terrace... his study and personal space had temporarily exchanged places with the same section on the next floor’s Magic Garden.

For this Magic Tower entirely controlled by Hill, such changes are all effortlessly simple, Li Si can directly operate them.

Thus, this terrace could be considered green willows red flowers, spring light splendid.

Hill sat securely on a comfortable recliner sofa, smelling the faint floral scent of Lily of the Valley above, his eyes looking down to the mountain’s foot.

There, Josh, Russell, and Carpenter were already eagerly anticipating.

Hill didn’t know how Li Si described the Undead Tribe to his students... anyway, at this point, he was playing dead, letting Li Si say whatever.

How could he say it?

Nothing he says can change what he will definitely face today.

He could only let Russell and Carpenter witness it with their own eyes.

”Hmm?” Hill was a bit surprised.

This time, it wasn’t the usual Light Gate used by the God of Time and Space that appeared.

Instead, it was a real door made of black metal structure.

”Styx?” Hill looked for a while and finally confirmed where the greenish-black pattern on the door came from... the rose gold and blue-white edges don’t need thinking.

Unexpectedly, even Celene, who had long departed, got involved... but also, with Shaer still here, Celene couldn’t forget this world so quickly.

Her biggest issue was not remembering.

But as long as she still has it in her mind, she would still keep her past promises.

”Styx must keep an eye on the Undead Tribe!” Lansendel said cheerfully, ”Although he doesn’t care much about what happens to this world.

But since it is closely related to his tributaries.

He certainly doesn’t want the Undead Tribe to play too wildly and cut off his tributaries.”

”The Undead Tribe can’t achieve such a level, right?” Hill couldn’t help looking at the Great Peacock.

”Humans who can make AO suffer a setback, can’t be too cautious.” Lansendel laughed even happier.